Tobacco-cleaner.



B. E. TEALE.

TOBACCO CLEANER. APPLICATION FILED FEB-23.1918- 2 SHEET$$HEET INVENTOR Kfl d BY I Patented Dec. 30, 1919.

ATTORNEY B. E. TEALE.

TOBACCO CLEANER. APPLICATION FILED {53.23. 19%8.

Patented Deb. 30,1919;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

BENJAMIN E. TEALE, OF RIGI-IMUND, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOB TO BRITISH-AMERICANTOBACCO COMPANY, LTD, OF NEW YORK, ll'.

BRITAIN.

A. C'GRPOEATJION OF GREAT TOBACCO-CLEANER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN E. TEALE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Richmond, county of I-lenrico, and State of Virginia, haveinvented a new and useful Improvements in Tobacco-Cleaners, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in tobacco cleaners forremoving relatively heavy pieces of stem and foreign matter from cut orshredded tobacco, particularly adaptable for use in connection withautomatic cigarette machine feeds.

In preparing certain kinds of tobacco for use in the manufacture ofcigarettes, a considerable portion of the stem of a tobacco leaf is lefttherein, and when the leaf is sliced or shredded the stem is cut intopieces of varying size dependent upon the original size of the leaf andupon the particular part of the stem from which they are cut. The largerand heavier pieces of stem are objectionable in that they interfere withthe proper functioning of the cigarette machine mechanisms in making thecigarettes and with the proper burning of the finished product. The mainobject of the present invention is the production of a device forcleaning the tobacco by driving its parts along different trajectoriesand thereby effecting the separation of the lighter parts suitable forcigarettes from the heavier parts and foreign matter unsuitabletherefor. Another object is the production of a device of the abovegeneral character in-built or otherwise associated with a cigarettenachine feed of the automatic type. l/Vith these and other objects notspecifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain constructions, combinations and parts which will be hereinafter fullydescribed and then specifically pointed out in the claims hereuntoappended.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specificationand in which like characters of reference indicate the same or likeparts, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a device constructedin accordance with the invention; and 2 is an end elevation, partlybroken away, of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

In carrying the invention into efiect. there is provided means forproducing a shower of tobacco, and cleaning means including propellingmechanism positioned to inter- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 23, N18.

Patented Dec. 30, 1919.

Serial no. 218,639.

cept and adapted to act upon the shower of tobacco to drive its heavierand lighter parts along difierent trajectories and thereby effect theirseparation. In the best construcions, the tobacco shower producing meansis the picker device of an automatic cigarette machine feed, and thelatter is further provided with a delivery belt for delivering thelighter parts of the tobacco to the cigarette machine proper, and withmeans for collecting the heavier parts for removal from the machine atsuitable intervals. In the best constructions also, rotary propellingmechanism is employed, and means are provided. for varying the angularvelocity of said mechanism to compensate for changes in the conditionand action of the tobacco due to atmospheric changes or other causes.These mechanisms, means and devices may be varied in construction inmany ways within the scope of the claims. The particular structureselected to illustrate the invention is but one of many possibleconcrete embodiments of the same. The invention, therefore, is not to berestricted to the precise details of the struct ure shown and described.

Referring to the drawings, 3 indicates the hopper of an automaticcigarette machine feed provided with a feed drum 4:, a filling drum 5, abottom belt 6, a brushing device 7, a picker device 8 co-acting with thefeed drum a delivery belt 9, a second picker device 10 co-acting withthe delivery belt, and a delivery chute 11 adapted to guide the tobaccodirectly to the cigarette machine proper. The parts above referred toand the means ordinarily employed to operate tliem are all well known inthe art and since their particular construction lies outside of thepresent invention and further description thereof is unnecessary to afull understanding of the present invention it is omitted in theinterest of brevity and clearness.

It is to be understood that the tobacco irass confined within the hopper3 and actc-l upon by the feed drum 4. and filling drum 5 is in thecondition in which it comes from the slicing or shredding machines; thatis to say, it is in p rt formed by light shreds of leaf web and in partby the objectionable and relatively heavy pieces of stem; and itfrequently contains objectionable foreign matter also much heavier thanthe leaf web shreds. For the purpose of cleaning the tobacco by removingits objectionable parts, the belowmentioned cleaning means is employed.As shown, there is provided a shaft 12 extending across the machine at apoint adjacent the picker device 8 and journaled in suitable bearings inthe side Walls of the hopper 3. Upon this shaft is secured a roll 13provided with a plurality of radial vanes 14 the outer ends of which arebent rearwardly. By an inspection ofFig. 1, it will be understood thatthe roll 13 with its vanes 14 and rotating in the direction of the arrowconstitutes a propelling mechanism posir tioned to intercept the showerof tobacco produced by the picker device 8 and to drive its heavier andlighter parts along different trajectories, the heavier parts beingdriven farther than the lighter parts because of their greater weightand lesser surface eX- posed to air resistance. The lightest parts ofthe tobacco acted upon by the propelling mechanism fall directly uponthe delivery belt 9 and are delivered thereby to the cigarette machineproper. The parts that are a little heavier are propelled or thrownbeyond the belt and for the purpose of intercepting them and causingthem to fall upon the belt 9 there is provided a baflie wall 15 spacedat suitable distance from the propelling mechanism. As shown in Fig. 1,parts of the tobacco which strike this baffle wall fall upon the belt 9and are delivered thereby to the cigarette machine proper, with thelightest parts.

Means are provided for collecting the heavier parts of the tobacco, andany foreign matter, so that they may be removed from the machine atsuitable intervals. As shown, this means includes a receptacle 16 hingedat 17 to the hopper 3. This receptacle is held in proper position beyondthe baffle wall, or outside said wall, by means of an ordinary sash lock18 one part of which is secured to the receptacle and the other to adeflecting hood 19 extending beyond the limits of the hopper 3 andadapted to deflect tobacco thrown against it down into the receptacle.The deflecting hood is further provided with a deflecting ledge 20 whichcovers the edge of the receptacle and prevents tobacco from lodgingthereon. By an inspection of Fig. 1, it will be understood that theheavier parts of the tobacco are driven or thrown by the propellingmechanism over the baffle wall 15 against the deflecting hood 19 andthence into the receptacle 16, or directly into said receptacle. It willbe further understood that by unlocking the receptacle and permittingthe same to swing down on its hinges or pivots, the accumulated heavierparts of the tobacco therein may be readily removed therefrom, andwithout stopping the machine.

Tobacco is extremely hygroscopic and atmospheric changesto which it isexposed before or during the ordinary operation of the machines resultin corresponding changes in its condition or order. Moreover, differentlots of tobacco are frequently prepared in different order. To guardagainst possible and comparative inefficiency of the machines underchanging conditions of this character, means are provided for adjustingthe machine in accordance with changes in the condition of the tobacco.As shown, such adjustment is made by varyingthe angular velocity of thepropelling mechanism. This is accomplished by means of a stepped pulley21 fast upon a projecting end of the shaft 12 and driven by a suitablebelt 22.

By an inspection of Fig. 1, it will be understood that the delivery belt9 underruns the propelling mechanism and the baffle wall 15 and that allof the tobacco will be caught thereupon and delivered to a cigarettemachine thereby, excepting the objectionable heavier parts, and foreignmatter, thrown over the baflie wall into the receptacle 16.

In view of the foregoing, a detailed description of the operation of thedevice is deemed unnecessary and is therefore omitted in the interest ofbrevity.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with means for producing a shower of tobacco, ofcleaning means including rotary propelling mechanism positioned tointercept and adapted to act upon the shower of tobacco to drive itsheavier and lighter parts along different trajectories and therebyeffect their sepa ration.

2. The combination with means for producing a shower of tobacco, ofcleaning means including rotary propelling mecha nism positioned tointercept and adapted to act upon the shower of tobacco to drive itsheavier and lighter parts along different trajectories and therebyeffect their separation, and means for varying the angular velocity ofsaid mechanism.

3. The combination with means for producing a shower of tobacco, ofcleaning means including a rotary propelling mechanism having aplurality of radial vanes the outer ends of which are bent rearwardlyand positioned to intercept and adapted to act upon the shower oftobacco to drive its heavier and lighter parts along differenttrajectories and thereby effect their separation.

4. The combination with means for producing a shower of tobacco, ofcleaning means including propelling mechanism positioned to interceptand adapted to act upon the shower of tobacco to drive its heavier andlighter parts along different trajectories and thereby effect theirseparation, a

receptacle into which the heavier parts are thrown and collected, and atraveling belt upon which the lighter parts fall and are delivered at adefinite point.

5. The combination with means for producing a shower of tobacco, ofcleaning means including propelling mechanism positioned to interceptand adapted to act upon the shower of tobacco, a battle wall spaced fromsaid mechanism, a receptacle beyond the balile wall, and a travelingbelt underrunning said mechanism and said wall.

6. The combination with means for producing a shower of tobacco, ofcleaning means including propelling mechanism positioned to interceptand adapted to act upon the shower of tobacco, a baffle wall spaced fromsaid mechanism, a receptacle hinged to the outer side of said wall, adeflecting hood overlying said wall and receptacle, and a traveling beltunderrunning said mechanism and said wall.

7. In an automatic cigarette machine feed, the combination with a pickerdevice, of

2B propelling mechanism positioned to intercept and adapted to act upona shower of tobacco produced by said device to drive its heavier andlighter parts along different trajectories and thereby effect theirseparation, and means for collecting the heavier parts.

8. In an automatic cigarette machine feed, the combination with a.picker device, of rotary propelling mechanism positioned to interceptand adapted to act upon a shower of tobacco produced by said device todrive its heavier and lighter parts along different trajectories andthereby effect their separation, and means for collecting the heavierparts. v

9. In an automatic cigarette machine feed, the combination with a pickerdevice, of rotary propelling mechanism positioned to intercept andadapted to act upon a shower of tobacco produced by said device to driveits heavier and lighter parts along diiferent trajectories and therebyeffect their separa tion, means for varying the angular velocity of saidmechanism, and means for collecting the heavier parts.

10. In an automatic cigarette machine feed, the combination with a.picker device, of rotary propelling mechanism having a plurality ofvanes positioned to inter cept and adapted to act upon a shower oftobacco produced by said device to drive its heavier and lighter partsalong different trajectories and thereby elfect their separa tion, andmeans for collecting the heavier parts.

11. In an automatic cigarette machine feed, the combination with apicker device, of rotary propelling mechanism having a plurality ofradial vanes the outer ends of which are bent rearwardly and positionedto intercept and adapted to act upon a shower of tobacco produced bysaid device to drive its heavier and lighter parts along differenttrajectories and thereby effect their separation, and means forcollecting the heavier parts.

12. In arr automatic cigarette machine feed, the combination with apicker device, of propelling mechanism positioned to intercept andadapted to act upon a shower of tobacco produced by said device, abafiie wall spaced from said mechanism, a re ceptacle hinged to theouter side of said wall, a deflecting hood overlying said wall and saidreceptacle, and a traveling belt underrunning said mechanism and saidwall.

13. In an automatic cigarette machine feed, the combination with apicker device, of a delivery belt, propelling mechanism between saiddevice and said belt and adapted to act upon a shower of tobaccoproduced by said device, a bafiie wall spaced from said mechanism andover said belt, a receptacle hinged to the outer side of said wall, anda deflecting hood overlying said wall and said receptacle.

14. The combination with means for producing a shower of tobacco, ofcleaning means including a propelling mechanism provided with rearwardlyinclined operating surfaces extending across and positioned to interceptand act upon the shower of tobacco to drive its heavier and lighterparts along different trajectories and thereby effect their separation.

15. In an automatic cigarette machine feed, the combination with apicker device, of propelling mechanism provided with rearwardly inclinedoperating surfaces extending across and positioned to intercept and actupon a shower of tobacco produced by said device to drive its heavierand lighter parts along different trajectories and thereby effect theirseparation.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

BENJAMIN E. TEALE.

